Special Report

Malaysia a Choice Business Location

A new study has found that in terms of reputation as a base to do business, Malaysia was ranked seventh out of 41 countries surveyed worldwide. Global market information provider TNS said in a statement.

"The stated reputation of the country as a business location by its citizens is a good description of the internal perception of the country's current economic situation and the people's expectations about their own future economic development," said TNS Managing Director Siti Norbaya Manaf.

"For example, many of the highly developed countries such as France, Germany and Japan find themselves in a situation of decreasing growth rates and increasing unemployment figures, resulting in a high degree of pessimism and low reputation level for business location," she said.

On the other hand, countries like Singapore (ranked fourth), South Africa (sixth), India (10th) and Malaysia, have developed strongly within the last five years, therefore enjoying public confidence and high reputation ratings, Siti Norbaya added.

The TNS Global Reputation Study 2005 surveyed almost 37,000 people in 40 countries to gauge perception of their country's top corporations and institutions. Conducted during the fourth quarter of 2004, the survey involved residents across countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

The study detailed how residents rate the reputations of their nations' institutions such as healthcare, telecommunications, political parties, mail service, business location, financial/banking outlets and supermarkets.

Malaysia was also ranked favorably in other categories, including fourth best in the world for Reputation of Telephone Providers in Country and 10th for the Reputation of Primary Banks in Country.

Malaysia was also ranked second for both Reputation of Health Service in Country and Reputation of Political Parties in Country.